Kassandra Lou Rockhold

Kassandra “Kass” Lou Rockhold, age 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 20, 2026, in Yakima, Washington, just one day after celebrating her birthday. Born on April 19, 1950, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Kass lived a life defined by deep love, resilience, and unwavering devotion to her family.

Kass was a constant, someone her children and grandchildren could always count on. She made it her mission to stay connected to the people she loved, keeping up with every detail of their lives. Whether through a phone call, a birthday song sung without fail first thing in the morning, or a text filled with extra emojis, she made each person feel seen, known, and cherished. She was present not only in person, but in heart and spirit every single day.

Above all, Kass cherished her family. She loved baking and cooking for them, especially during the holidays, preparing Christmas treats, soups, and meals to share. Mother’s Day picnics at the park were among her favorite traditions. She also enjoyed crafting, gardening, and reading, filling her home with books and passing her love of reading on to her children and grandchildren.

She was also an extraordinary grandmother and great-grandmother, finding deep joy in every moment she spent with her grandchildren. She delighted in celebrating their special days, always searching for the perfect gift and wrapping each one beautifully, because to Kass, “there was always time for a bow.” She didn’t just spend time with them; she truly shared in their world. She watched their shows and movies right alongside them, not just as a spectator but with genuine enjoyment, knowing the characters, the storylines, and even names like Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, and Harry Potter by heart. She played card games and board games with enthusiasm, creating memories filled with laughter, warmth, and connection. Her home was always open for after school visits and swims, where she would make special snacks and catch up on their day. Her love for them was intentional, thoughtful, and constant, and they will carry those moments with them always.

Kass shared a truly special and lifelong bond with her childhood best friends, Leslie (Duane) Lizotte and Kathy Brady, a friendship that began when they were just 11 years old and remained unbreakable for 65 years. Their connection was rare and deeply rooted, marked by unwavering loyalty, laughter, and love. They opened their homes to Kass when she needed a soft place to land and stood beside her through every season of life. They stayed closely connected through regular phone calls, often “watching” their favorite television shows together while talking or on FaceTime, sharing in the simple, everyday moments that meant so much. Their friendship was not only enduring, it was extraordinary, a constant source of comfort, strength, and joy in Kass’s life.

A devoted Christian, Kass found strength and comfort in her faith. She carried it with quiet confidence throughout her life and found peace in the belief that she has now returned to her Savior, free from the limitations of the illness she carried for so many years.

Kass was beautiful, spunky, and fiercely independent. She never liked to rely on others and faced life’s challenges with determination and grace. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her twenties and later re-diagnosed with Devic’s Disease (NMOSD), she courageously participated in a clinical trial involving high dose chemotherapy treatment and a stem cell transplant in Chicago, which kept her disease from further progression.

Though Kass was adopted, she never lamented that part of her story. She deeply loved her parents, Roy Russell Rockhold and Seville (Meyers) Rockhold, her siblings Roy and Svea, and was grateful for the life and family she was given. Later in life, she was thankful for the opportunity to learn more about her biological family and to connect with her siblings.

Kass spent her early years in Cheyenne before moving to San Diego, California, where she grew up and graduated from James Madison Senior High School. Her childhood was filled with love, sunshine, ocean waves, and strong family traditions. She loved sharing stories of long beach days spent swimming, surfing, and drifting in the water with her siblings and girlfriends after her dad dropped them off in the morning on his way to work and picked them up at the end of the day. Her family was actively involved in the Masonic community, and as a young woman Kass was honored to serve as an Honor Queen in Job’s Daughters.

Over the years, Kass lived in many places, including Jacksonville Beach, Florida; Lacey, Prosser, and Yakima, Washington; and El Cajon, San Diego, and Santee, California and several more.

She worked as a pharmacy technician and carried her strong work ethic and independence into every stage of life.

Kass is survived by her children: Seville (Brent) Christiansen, Kindra Heintz, and Mikal (Andy Russell) Heintz; her grandchildren: Amanda Tompkins, Troy (Denae) Erwin, Emma (Christopher) Wiley, Grace Russell, Jacob Russell, Carter Russell, and Amaya Heintz; and her great-grandchildren: Hunter, Abel, Savaeh, Casey, JJ, and Claire

Kass was preceded in death by her parents, Roy Russell Rockhold and Seville Edda (Meyers) Rockhold; her brother, Roy Rockhold Jr.; her sister, Svea Keeley; and Steffan (grandson) Tompkins.

Kass will be remembered for her fierce independence, her boundless love, and the way she showed up…again and again…for the people who mattered most. Her legacy lives on in the traditions she created, the care she gave, and the deep connections she nurtured throughout her life.

At her request, there will be no memorial service. To honor her memory, her family asks that you pick up the phone today and call the people you care about, and take the time to be together for those special moments, just as Kass always did.

“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord.” — Matthew 25:23

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7